Nancy June Brandon, City Manager Ed Craig and County Mayor Eugene Ray serve cake Saturday morning at a celebration honoring The Capri Theater. (T-G Photo by John Philleo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"It's just bringing back some old memories," said James Brown, of Shelbyville. "When we was kids we were running around all over downtown."

A crowd of folks visited Shelbyville's public square Saturday during the Uptown City Fair, organized by The Main Street Committee. Sizzling hot temperatures didn't stop people from admiring the antique cars, grabbing a hot dog or an old fashioned milkshake, shopping for a new purse, or simply ... taking it all in.

It was just like the "good old days" that Brown was thinking about as he sat on a street bench Saturday morning with his friend Joe Landers admiring all the activity taking place before his eyes.

"We used to have a store here called Castner Knott," said Mayor Eugene Ray, who also reminisced about the past. "People would come from all over to visit this store. You can just imagine what the square (back then) was like. It was just like a family reunion."

As some were reminded about the past, just as many people saw Saturday's fair as a hopeful indicator of what's to come in Shelbyville.

"I think this is great," said Veita Jo Hampton, a local poet and author. "There is so much unused potential in Shelbyville and all of the public interest in this fair will lead to unlimited possibilities."

Hampton stopped by the Capri Theater to celebrate the theater being in business for 81 years. The theater is the longest standing business in the uptown area and many dropped in to congratulate owners Beth and Ray Rhoton.

"We bought the theater from Clyde (Jacobs) in 2001," said Beth Rhoton. "We have slowly done renovations and plan to do future renovations. We just love the nostalgia."

In honor of the celebration, cake was served by Mayor Ray, Ed Craig, city manager, and Nancy June Brandon, fair organizer.

Around 11 a.m., just in time for cake, many people were exiting the theater after viewing the first showing of "Our Very Own," a movie about small-town life in Shelbyville.

"I've seen it many times, but it's about me, so I don't get tired of it," said Deborah Obenchain, upon whom one of the characters of the movie is based. "The movie is about growing up here, about a group of friends from Shelbyville."

Next door, the booths were filling up quickly in 50s & Fiddles Old Time Ice Cream and Soda Shop, a new diner owned by Don and Ron Stacy that held its grand opening during the fair.

"I had a hot dog and it was delicious," said Barbara Blanton, who was also enjoying a milkshake with her husband, Ted, and their children.

"The food is great," added Ted.

In the early hours of the fair, Calvin Cannon, another organizer of the fair, was pleased with the turnout, despite a power glitch.

"At this point, I'm very pleased and happy with the turnout so far," said Cannon.

James Brown, left, and Joe Landers reminisce about their childhood in Shelbyville, when the square was a booming place to visit. (T-G Photo by John Philleo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

While many of the scheduled events -- such as a dog show, chicken eating contest, and husband calling contest -- were scheduled for later in the afternoon, after press time, many folks were enjoying the vendors and antique cars that outlined the square early in the day.

Paul and Elaine Stacy of Shelbyville drove their 1948 blue Ford Coupe up to the square to take a look at some of the unique cars on display.

"It's a former Rutherford County police car, with no rust," said Paul. "She (Elaine) wanted to kill me when I turned down $40,000 for it."

Not really, said Elaine. "He's got to have something to play with," she said.

If cars weren't your thing, the variety of vendors ranging from purses and jewelry to pottery to children's books -- and birdhouses made out of gourds -- may have suited your fancy.

"I have been doing this since I retired, my daughter got me into it," said Bobbie Mattern, of Dickson, who had a booth set up Saturday. "Lots of people are looking and telling me stories about their gourds."

Mattern had an interesting array of birdhouses for customers to choose from.

"Each one (gourd) looks at me and tells me what it wants to be," laughed Mattern.

Fair organizers didn't forget about the younger generation when organizing the event, and several showed up to take part in the face painting, drawing station, petting zoo and inflatables.

"The (inflatables) are awesome," said Diana Godinez, "especially for the kids."

While it did start raining just before press time, the fair organizers said last week they were prepared to stay open rain or shine. Nonetheless, the earlier part of the day had many people happy and hopeful about the future.

"I'm glad," Brown said. "They need to bring things back up on the square."

Mayor Ray added, "I'd like to see people come to the square to eat, have an ice cream and purchase from the businesses," Ray said. "Hopefully we can have something like this quarterly ... to energize the people."